Jamie Oliver: Knowledge of good food should be a basic human right

Jamie Oliver has appealed to the United Nations to help fight the world obesity crisis.

Food fight: Jamie Oliver (Picture: PA)

The chef and broadcaster, 36, has written to secretary-general Ban-Ki Moon, saying: âObesity already accounts for ten per cent of US healthcare expenditure. Itâs predicted to be 20 per cent in ten years.â

He warned that soon we would be left with âa global diet of fast and processed food and drinkâ.

He added: âI have seen mothers feeding toddlers cola through a feeding bottle because they donât understand good nutrition.

‘Iâve shown simple fresh vegetables to teenage students in the United Kingdom and America and they canât identify a cucumber or an aubergine or a pear.’If they canât cook, how can they feed their families?â

The âknowledge to be able to feed your family in a nutritious and balanced way should be a basic human rightâ, said Oliver.

His appeal comes on the eve of the UN summit in New York, which will discuss the increase of several diseases including diabetes, lung cancer and obesity-related illnesses.